Trooper free in misconduct plea deal

By TRACY JOHNSON, SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER REPORTER

Updated
10:00 pm PDT, Thursday, September 29, 2005

A state trooper's plea agreement in accusations that he groped 10 women during traffic stops left at least one of the women feeling uneasy Thursday and others relieved that the case was over without their having to tell a jury about their ordeal.

Trooper Michael Idland pleaded guilty Thursday to three misdemeanors, though he maintained his innocence, and was freed from jail. The State Patrol planned to announce next week whether he will be fired.

Idland had already served more than 16 months in solitary confinement at the King County Jail and would now spend about a year on probation under the agreement reached with prosecutors. He will be sentenced Nov. 4 in Superior Court.

Prosecutors agreed to dismiss eight other criminal charges, including three felonies, which could have meant roughly two years behind bars. They're asking for a three-year sentence, though he wouldn't have to serve the other half of it if he stayed out of trouble.

Idland, who often patrolled the Eastside end of the Evergreen Point Bridge, had a pattern of stopping women for possible drunken driving, then groping underneath their clothing and underwear in what he portrayed as routine searches, according to federal investigators.

Attorney David Gehrke, who represents three of Idland's accusers, said Thursday that he was pleased that Idland's plea would spare "the horror the victims would have had to relive on the witness stand."

He said the women were glad it was over.

Yet another woman, who told police that Idland searched her under her clothing last year, told Judge Ronald Kessler that she was unhappy with the plea deal and the fact that Idland can still say he's never been convicted of a felony if he ever applies for a job.

She doesn't want Idland to be able to simply "meld back into society without anyone having notice" about his crimes, she explained later.

Deputy prosecutor Scott O'Toole said Idland will be on probation for longer than would have been possible under the original charges and is now "a convicted sex offender three times over."

He said prosecutors "sought punishment, accountability and some sensitivity to the victims" in reaching the agreement.

Idland, 41, entered a modified guilty plea to three counts of second-degree sexual misconduct, contending that he believes he is innocent but is "deeply sorry for creating the circumstances that led to the present prosecution."

His attorney, Robert Freeby, said he thought that the plea deal was "an equitable one" and that Idland, who was looking forward to rejoining his wife and kids and having a home-cooked meal, had "a bittersweet feeling" about it.

Freeby would not say whether the Thurston County man hopes to keep his job, noting that the State Patrol is still conducting its own investigation.

Idland has continued to receive his paycheck since his arrest more than a year ago. Capt. Jeff DeVere said the State Patrol expects to decide next week whether he should face discipline or be fired over the sexual misconduct, which happened between late 2002 and early 2004.

"These allegations are very disturbing. We take pride in our high level of integrity," DeVere said.

"The public can be sure we'll do the right thing concerning Trooper Idland."

Idland is not required to register as a sex offender because the law does not include people convicted of second-degree sexual misconduct.

At least five of Idland's accusers plan to seek damages from the state, according to both Gehrke and attorney Kathy Goater, who represents two of the women.

"What he did to them was horrible, and they were traumatized by what happened," Goater said.